JP2006147526A - Fuel cell system and evaluation device of fuel cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a duel cell system capable of appropriately preventing effluence of a fuel gas and an evaluation device of the fuel cell. <P>SOLUTION: The fuel cell system 1 is provided with a drain device 43 for recovering moisture in the exhaust gas containing a fuel gas, a water drainage passage 47 for discharging the water stored in the drain device 43, and a water sealing mechanism 49 provided in the drainage passage 47. A drain valve 48 opens and closes the drainage passage 47 based on the detection result of a water-level gauge 46. The water sealing mechanism is provided on the downstream side of the drain valve 48. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cell system for recovering and draining water in exhaust gas containing fuel gas with a drain device, and a fuel cell evaluation device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas supplied for power generation in a fuel cell is introduced into a drain device as an exhaust gas (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This Patent Document 1 is applied to a fuel cell evaluation device, but in a drain device having a tank structure, moisture contained in exhaust gas (product water generated by the reaction of the fuel cell) is separated from the fuel gas. Collected and stored.
As a result, the fuel gas in the drain device is exhausted from an exhaust passage dedicated to the fuel gas connected to the upper portion of the drain device. On the other hand, the water stored in the drain device is drained from a drainage passage dedicated to drainage connected to the lower part of the drain device.
(For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-346855 A (FIG. 2)

In consideration of the structure around the drain device described in the drawing of Patent Document 1, the water in the drain device is drained by opening the drain valve on the drainage passage based on the detection result of the water level gauge attached to the drain device. It is thought that the water is drained to the drainage side of the passage. However, in such a conventional structure, if the water level gauge breaks down, fuel gas may be discharged from the drainage passage if all the water in the drain device is drained to the drainage outlet side of the drainage passage. It was.
That is, when the system is abnormal, such as when the water level gauge is broken, the exhaust gas containing the fuel gas may flow out to the drainage passage dedicated for drainage without being separated by the drain device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell system and a fuel cell evaluation device that can appropriately prevent the outflow of fuel gas.

  In the fuel cell system of the present invention, an exhaust gas containing a fuel gas is introduced, a drain device that recovers moisture in the exhaust gas, a drain passage that is connected to the drain device and drains the water stored in the drain device, And a water sealing mechanism provided in the drainage passage.

According to this configuration, during normal normal operation, moisture (water) in the exhaust gas collected and stored in the drain device is drained into the drainage passage and flows into the water seal mechanism. When water reaches a predetermined amount in the water sealing mechanism, the excess water is drained into the drainage passage on the downstream side of the water sealing mechanism. On the other hand, even if all the water in the drain device is drained at the time of abnormality and the exhaust gas flows out into the drainage passage as it is, the circulation of the exhaust gas is blocked at the water sealing mechanism. Thereby, the outflow of the fuel gas to the downstream side of the drainage passage can be appropriately prevented. That is, the fail safe action can be suitably achieved.
Here, the fuel gas is generally hydrogen gas. The exhaust gas containing the fuel gas may contain an oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell in addition to the water of the generated water generated by the reaction of the fuel cell. As a fuel cell system, a fuel cell vehicle is typified as a device equipped with the fuel cell system.

  In this case, a water level meter that detects the water level of the water stored in the drain device and a drain valve that opens and closes the drain passage based on the detection result of the water level meter are further provided, and the water sealing mechanism is provided downstream of the drain valve. It is preferable to be provided in the side drainage passage.

According to this configuration, when the water level gauge is normal, the drain valve opens and closes based on the detection result of the water level gauge, so that the water stored in the drain device can be appropriately drained into the drain passage. On the other hand, even if the drain valve is open at the time of failure of the water level gauge and all the water in the drain device is drained, the flow of exhaust gas (fuel gas) can be blocked by the water sealing mechanism on the downstream side of the drain valve.
It should be noted that such an abnormal system includes not only the failure of the water level gauge but also the failure of the drain valve. That is, according to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately cope with a case where the drainage valve fails in the open position.

  In these cases, it is preferable that the water sealing mechanism is constituted by a bent portion of a pipe constituting the drainage passage, and the bent portion is constituted so that water is accumulated in a free state.

According to this configuration, since the water sealing mechanism can be configured with a part of the pipe constituting the drainage passage, for example, compared to the case where the water sealing mechanism is configured using a tank, the installation space for the water sealing mechanism is reduced. You do n’t have to.
Here, the bent portion can be formed, for example, in a U shape, an inverted U shape, or an S shape.

  In these cases, it is preferable to further include a gas detector for detecting the presence or absence of fuel gas in the drainage passage.

According to this configuration, it is possible to appropriately detect the outflow of the fuel gas to the downstream side of the drainage passage when the system is abnormal, such as when the water level gauge fails.
Here, various measures can be taken in response to the detection result of the gas detector. For example, the gas outflow can be notified in an audible manner by a display such as a lamp or a sound of a buzzer. Further, the drain valve can be closed, and the driving of the fuel cell system itself can be stopped.

  In this case, it is preferable that the gas detector further includes a gas guide passage that is provided outside the drain passage, is branched and connected to the drain passage, and can guide the exhaust gas to the gas detector.

  According to this configuration, the gas detector need not be provided in the drainage passage.

  In this case, it is preferable that the apparatus further includes a chamber provided on the gas guide passage, and the gas detector is provided in the chamber.

  According to this configuration, even if the fuel gas flows out from the drainage passage to the gas guiding passage, the presence or absence of the fuel gas can be detected by the gas detector provided in the chamber, and the outflowed fuel gas can be detected. It can be stored in the chamber. Thereby, it is not necessary to discharge the fuel gas to the outside as much as possible.

  In this case, it is preferable that the gas detector is provided in the upper part in the chamber. By doing so, it becomes easy to detect the fuel gas having a relatively small weight. In addition, a gas discharge passage is preferably connected to the bottom of the chamber. Furthermore, it is preferable that the opening of the gas guiding passage to the chamber is arranged so that the exhaust gas is directed to the gas detector. By doing so, the outflow of gas can be detected quickly. Moreover, this opening part may be arrange | positioned so that waste gas may discharge | release along a chamber inner wall in a horizontal direction. If it carries out like this, the spreading | diffusion of the exhaust gas at the time of flowing in into a chamber can be suppressed, and it becomes suitable for the detection of gas. The chamber preferably has a vertically long shape as a whole.

  In these cases, it is preferable to further include an exhaust passage that is connected to the drain device and exhausts the exhaust gas from which moisture has been collected by the drain device to the gas processing device.

According to this configuration, the exhaust gas whose moisture has been recovered by the drain device can be guided to the gas processing device.
Here, the gas processing device can be configured by reducing the concentration of the fuel gas of the exhaust gas, and can be configured by, for example, a diluter or a combustor.

  An apparatus for evaluating a fuel cell according to the present invention is a fuel cell which introduces exhaust gas containing fuel gas used for evaluating the performance of a fuel cell into a drain device, collects and drains water in the exhaust gas with the drain device. An evaluation device, which is connected to a drain device and includes a drainage passage for draining water stored in the drainage device, and a water seal mechanism provided in the drainage passage. In this case, a water level meter that detects the water level of the water stored in the drain device and a drain valve that opens and closes the drain passage based on the detection result of the water level meter are further provided, and the water sealing mechanism is provided downstream of the drain valve. It is preferable to be provided in the drainage passage on the side.

  According to these configurations, similarly to the above fuel cell system, even if the drainage valve is open, for example, when the water level meter fails, the flow of the exhaust gas flowing into the drainage passage is blocked at the water sealing mechanism. Can do. As a result, it is possible to appropriately prevent the fuel gas from flowing out to the downstream side of the drainage passage when the system is abnormal, such as when the water level gauge fails. That is, it is possible to evaluate the performance of the fuel cell in a state where the fail-safe action is suitably achieved.

  In these cases, it is preferable to further include a gas detector for detecting the presence or absence of fuel gas in the drainage passage. In a preferred embodiment, the gas detector may further include a gas guide passage branched and connected to the drain passage and a chamber provided on the gas guide passage, and the gas detector may be provided in the chamber.

  According to the fuel cell system and the fuel cell evaluation apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately prevent the fuel gas from flowing out.

  Hereinafter, a fuel cell system and a fuel cell evaluation apparatus according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The characteristic part of the present invention is that a water seal mechanism is provided in the drainage passage to prevent exhaust gas containing fuel gas from being discharged to the downstream side of the drainage passage when the system is abnormal, for example, when the water level gauge fails. is there. In the following, a fuel cell system will be described first as a first embodiment, and a fuel cell evaluation apparatus will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments. In the second and subsequent embodiments, portions that are the same as the structure of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted. In addition, although detailed description is abbreviate | omitted, the content demonstrated after 2nd Embodiment is applicable to the fuel cell system of 1st Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell system 1 mounted on, for example, a fuel cell vehicle includes a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell 2 suitable for in-vehicle use, and a control device 3 that performs overall control of the entire system. ing. The fuel cell 2 has a stack structure in which a large number of single cells are stacked, and generates electric power upon receiving supply of an oxidizing gas (air) as an oxidant gas and a hydrogen gas as a fuel gas. When the fuel cell 2 is used for stationary use, the phosphoric acid type is preferable.

  The oxidizing gas is supplied to the fuel cell 2 through the supply passage 11 by a compressor (not shown). The oxidizing gas (unreacted oxidizing gas) discharged from the fuel cell 2 is discharged to the outside through the discharge passage 12. The fuel gas is stored in a gas supply source 21 such as a high-pressure tank. After being depressurized by a regulator 23 provided in the supply passage 22, the fuel gas flows through the supply passage 22 and is supplied to the fuel cell 2. The gas supply source 21 may store hydrogen gas, or may store natural gas when reformed to hydrogen gas in a vehicle, for example.

  The fuel gas (unreacted fuel gas) discharged from the fuel cell 2 is returned to the supply passage 22 by a pump 25 provided in the circulation passage 24. Impurities in the circulated fuel gas are discharged to the outside of the circulation passage 24 together with the fuel gas by the fuel gas discharge system 26 connected so as to branch to the portion of the circulation passage 24 on the downstream side of the pump 25. Here, the fluid discharged to the fuel gas discharge system 26 is collectively referred to as exhaust gas. In addition to fuel gas and impurities, the exhaust gas contains water (product water) generated by the reaction of the fuel cell 2.

  The fuel gas discharge system 26 includes a discharge passage 41 branched from the circulation passage 24, a purge valve 42 provided in the discharge passage 41, and a drain device provided on the downstream side of the purge valve 42 for gas-liquid separation of exhaust gas. 43, an exhaust passage 44 connected to the upper portion of the drain device 43, a gas processing device 45 provided in the exhaust passage 44, a water level gauge 46 for detecting the water level stored in the drain device 43, a drain A drainage passage 47 connected to the lower part of the device 43, a drainage valve 48 for opening and closing the drainage passage 47, and a water sealing mechanism 49 provided in the drainage passage 47 on the downstream side of the drainage valve 48 are provided.

  The purge valve 42 is configured by an electromagnetic valve connected to the control device 3. The purge valve 42 is normally closed and is controlled to open at a predetermined timing during system operation by the control device 3. As a result, exhaust gas is discharged from the circulation passage 24 to the discharge passage 41.

  The drain device 43 has a tank structure and functions as a gas-liquid separator that separates the gas component and moisture of the exhaust gas from each other. The drain device 43 is mainly divided vertically by a liquid reservoir 51 that collects and separates water separated from the exhaust gas, and a gas portion 52 provided above the liquid reservoir 51. The drain device 43 seals the discharge port of the discharge passage 41 with water.

  That is, the discharge port of the discharge passage 41 is arranged in the liquid reservoir 51 and is opened in the water stored in the liquid reservoir 51. For this reason, the exhaust gas from the discharge passage 41 is first introduced into the liquid reservoir 51 of the drain device 43, and the moisture in the exhaust gas is stored in the liquid reservoir 51. On the other hand, a gas component (fuel gas or the like) excluding moisture in the exhaust gas rises into the gas portion 52. In the upper part of the gas part 52, an upstream port of the exhaust passage 44 is opened, and the exhaust gas in the gas part 52 is exhausted from the exhaust passage 44 to the gas processing device 45.

  The gas processing device 45 reduces the concentration of the fuel gas contained in the exhaust gas, and includes a diluter and a combustor. For example, when the gas processing device 45 is configured by a diluter, the dilution gas is introduced into the gas processing device 45 to reduce the concentration of the fuel gas. As the dilution gas, in addition to the oxidizing gas flowing through the supply passage 11 and the discharge passage 12, an inert gas such as secondary air or nitrogen that is not supplied to the fuel cell 2 can be used. The exhaust gas processed by the gas processing device 45 is exhausted to the downstream side of the exhaust passage 44 and finally exhausted outside the system.

  The water level gauge 46 is provided facing the liquid reservoir 51 and the gas part 52 of the drain device 43, and detects the water level of the water stored in the liquid reservoir 51. The water level gauge 46 is connected to the control device 3. The water level meter 46 is OFF until the water level (water surface) in the liquid reservoir 51 reaches a predetermined level. The water level meter 46 is turned on when the water level reaches the predetermined level, and outputs the detection result to the control device 3. A plurality of water level gauges 46 may be provided according to the height level of the water surface, or only one.

  The upstream end of the drainage passage 47 is connected to the lower part of the liquid reservoir 51 of the drain device 43, and the drainage port 55 serving as the downstream port is open to the atmosphere so that the drainage can be performed outside the system. The drainage passage 47 has a predetermined downward slope as a whole so that water moves toward the downstream side. For example, the pipe constituting the drainage passage 47 is attached to the vehicle via a bracket so as to extend rearward or sideward of the vehicle and obliquely downward. By the drainage passage 47, the water in the liquid reservoir 51 is drained outside the system.

  The drain valve 48 is composed of, for example, an electromagnetic valve and is connected to the control device 3. The drain valve 48 is controlled to open and close based on the detection result of the water level gauge 46. Specifically, the drain valve 48 is normally closed, and when the water level gauge 46 detects that the water in the liquid reservoir 51 has reached a predetermined level, the control device 3 that has received the detection signal The control signal is output so that the drain valve 48 is opened.

  As a result, the drain valve 48 is opened, and the water in the liquid reservoir 51 flows out to the downstream side of the drain passage 47. When the water in the liquid reservoir 51 is reduced to a predetermined amount, the drain valve 48 is controlled to close. When the drain valve 48 is closed, the discharge port of the discharge passage 41 is sealed with the liquid reservoir 51.

  The water sealing mechanism 49 is formed of a U-shaped tube that forms a part of the tube that forms the drainage passage 47, and water is stored in a free state. When the water in the liquid reservoir 51 is drained, the water in the U-shaped pipe (water sealing mechanism 49) is drained so as to be pushed downstream. When the drain valve 48 is closed, water is again accumulated in the U-shaped tube (water sealing mechanism 49).

  As described above, the water sealing mechanism 49 including the bent portion of the pipe constituting the drainage passage 47 may have not only a U-shaped tube structure but also a bent portion such as an S-shape. As will be described later, even if the exhaust gas flows into the drainage passage 47, the exhaust gas is blocked from flowing at the water sealing mechanism 49, while being guided to the gas guiding passage 61 from the upstream side of the water sealing mechanism 49. It is burned.

  The gas guiding passage 61 is branched and connected to a portion of the drainage passage 47 between the drainage valve 48 and the water sealing mechanism 49, and the downstream end thereof faces the gas detector 62. The gas guide passage 61 actively guides gas (exhaust gas) to the gas detector 62 and drains the liquid (water in the liquid reservoir 51) to the water sealing mechanism 49 side. It is connected to the upper part of the vertical direction of the pipe constituting 47 and extends vertically upward.

  In addition, it is preferable that the downstream end part of the gas induction channel | path 61 is formed in J shape, and the downstream port is opened toward the perpendicular downward direction. By doing so, it is possible to suitably prevent foreign matters from entering the downstream port of the gas guide passage 61 from the outside. The gas guiding passage 61 preferably has a smaller pipe diameter than the drainage passage 47. By doing so, it becomes possible to quickly guide the exhaust gas to the gas detector 62.

  The gas detector 62 detects the presence / absence of fuel gas in the drain passage 47 on the downstream side of the drain valve 48 based on the presence / absence (concentration level) of the fuel gas guided from the gas guide passage 61. The gas detector 62 is connected to the control device 3 and appropriately outputs the detection result to the control device 3. That is, the control device 3 constantly monitors the output of the gas detector 62.

  The control device 3 (ECU) has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that are not shown. The control device 3 inputs detection signals from various other sensors (not shown) such as the water level gauge 46 and the gas detector 62, and controls signals to various drivers of various components (23, 25, 42, 48, etc.). Is output to control the entire fuel cell system 1.

  For example, when the fuel cell system 1 is normal, the drain valve 48 is appropriately opened based on the detection result of the water level gauge 46, and the water in the drain device 43 is drained out of the system from the drain port 55. In this normal state, only water flows through the drainage passage 47, so the gas detector 62 detects “no” that there is no outflow (leakage) of exhaust gas to the drainage passage 47.

  However, if the drain valve 48 is opened when the water level gauge 46 fails, all the water in the drain device 43 is drained, and the exhaust gas flows out into the drain passage 47 as it is. The exhaust gas is blocked from flowing downstream of the drainage passage 47 by the water sealing mechanism 49, and is guided to the gas detector 62 by the gas guide passage 61.

  Thereby, the outflow of the exhaust gas from the drain outlet 55 can be appropriately prevented, and the presence of the outflow of the exhaust gas to the drain passage 47 can be detected by the gas detector 62. The control device 3 to which the signal indicating the detection is input outputs a control signal so as to take various appropriate measures, and controls the entire system.

  For example, the control device 3 can control the drain valve 48 to be closed to prevent the exhaust gas from flowing out. In addition, the control device 3 may control the regulator 23, the compressor, and the like to reduce the flow rates of the hydrogen gas and the oxidizing gas supplied to the fuel cell 2, or stop driving the fuel cell system 1 itself. You may do it. Further, the control device 3 may notify the passenger in the vehicle that there is a leak of exhaust gas by turning on a display means such as a lamp (not shown) or generating a sound with a buzzer or the like. By using this type of notification means, it is possible to prompt the passenger to replace the water level gauge 46.

  As described above, according to the fuel cell system 1 of the present embodiment, for example, when the water level gauge 46 fails, the exhaust gas containing fuel gas is appropriately prevented from being discharged into the atmosphere from the downstream side of the drainage passage 47. can do. In addition, since the gas detector 62 can quickly detect, even if the water level gauge 46 is broken, an appropriate response can be taken at an early stage as described above. That is, the fail safe action can be suitably achieved.

  In this embodiment, the water stored in the drain device 43 is drained out of the fuel cell system 1, but this water may be effectively used in the fuel cell system 1. For example, this water may be used as a part of the refrigerant that cools the fuel cell 2, or this water may be used for humidification of the oxidizing gas or hydrogen gas.

Second Embodiment
Next, a fuel cell evaluation apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an evaluation apparatus 100 illustrated around a fuel gas discharge system 26 which is a characteristic part of the present invention. This fuel cell evaluation device 100 (hereinafter abbreviated as “evaluation device 100”) includes the same fuel cell system 1 as in the first embodiment, and actually supplies and discharges oxidizing gas and fuel gas to and from the fuel cell 2. Then, various performances of the fuel cell 2 are evaluated.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 102 forming an outer frame line indicates an evaluation room, and the main part of the evaluation apparatus 100 is installed in the evaluation room 102. A gas processing device 45 is installed outside the evaluation room 102 outside. In addition, a drain outlet 55 serving as a downstream end of the drain passage 47 is located outside the evaluation room 102. The exhaust gas containing the fuel gas used for the evaluation of the fuel cell 2 is introduced into the drain device 43 from the discharge passage 104. As with the discharge passage 41 of the first embodiment, the discharge port 104 is sealed with a drain device 43 at the discharge port.

  The drain device 43 includes a liquid reservoir 51 and a gas portion 52 similar to those of the first embodiment, and a water level gauge 46 is provided facing these. Further, the exhaust passage 44 connected to the upper portion of the gas portion 52 extends to the outdoors, and a gas processing device 45 is interposed in the outdoor portion. A drainage valve 48 is interposed in the drainage passage 47 connected to the lower part of the liquid reservoir 51, and a U-shaped water sealing mechanism 49 is formed on the downstream side of the drainage valve 48. The diagonal lines in the water sealing mechanism 49 indicate the accumulated water. Further, the gas guide passage 61 branched and connected to the drainage passage 47 faces the gas detector 62 installed in the evaluation room 102. The gas detector 62 detects not only the exhaust gas fuel gas guided from the gas guide passage 61 but also the leak of the fuel gas in the evaluation room 102.

  Reference numeral 106 in FIG. 2 indicates a device including a drain device 43, a water level gauge 46, a drain valve 48, and the like. The fuel cell 2, the gas detector 62, and the water seal mechanism 49 are located outside the device 106. Therefore, the exhaust gas containing the fuel gas used for the evaluation of the fuel cell 2 is introduced into the drain device 43 in the device 106 and is gas-liquid separated by the drain device 43. The separated water is drained outside through a water sealing mechanism 49 outside the device 106. On the other hand, the separated gas-only exhaust gas flows from the outside of the device 106 to the gas processing device 45, is processed by the gas processing device 45, and is exhausted to the outdoors.

  According to the present embodiment, similarly to the fuel cell system 1 of the first embodiment, for example, when the water level gauge 46 fails, the exhaust gas containing fuel gas is discharged from the drain port 55 of the drain passage 47 to the outside. It can be prevented appropriately. Further, for example, when the water level gauge 46 fails, the gas detector 62 can quickly detect the outflow of the fuel gas. For this reason, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to take appropriate measures at an early stage such as closing the drain valve 48 or stopping the operation of the evaluation apparatus 100, and a large amount of fuel gas in the evaluation room 102. Does not have to be released.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, an evaluation apparatus 100 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the second embodiment is that a water seal mechanism 49 having a U-shaped tube structure is provided in the device 106. As a result, the distance between the water sealing mechanism 49 and the drainage valve 48 is narrowed, and therefore the gas guiding passage 61 branched between them causes the exhaust gas at the time of failure of the water level gauge 46 to be discharged more quickly than in the second embodiment. It can lead to the gas detector 62.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, an evaluation apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the third embodiment is that the water sealing mechanism 49 is an inverted U-shaped tube, thereby setting the highest part 110 in the drainage passage 47. A portion of the drainage passage 47 between the highest portion 110 and the drain device 43 is a sealed water portion 112 in which water accumulates. A drainage valve 48 is interposed in the sealing part 112. The highest portion 110 of the inverted U-shaped tube 49 is set to be slightly higher than the position of the bottom of the liquid reservoir 51 of the drain device 43. In addition, a gas guide passage 61 is branched and connected to the upper portion of the highest portion 110.

  According to the present embodiment, even if the drain valve 48 is opened when the water level gauge 46 fails, the exhaust gas containing the fuel gas may be discharged from the drain port 55 to the outside by the water in the sealing portion 112. Is prevented. In addition, even if the exhaust gas becomes a large flow rate at the time of this failure and the exhaust gas expels the water in the sealed water portion 112 to the drain port 55 (that is, the sealed water portion 112 is broken), the exhaust gas is gas-induced. The gas can be guided to the gas detector 62 through the passage 61.

  As a result, as in the above embodiment, appropriate measures can be taken at an early stage such as closing the drain valve 48 or stopping the operation of the evaluation apparatus 100, and a large amount in the evaluation room 102 and the drain outlet 55. It is not necessary to release the fuel gas. The height of the highest portion 110 can be set slightly lower than the position of the bottom of the liquid reservoir 51 of the drain device 43.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, an evaluation apparatus 100 according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the second to fourth embodiments is that the structure of the water sealing mechanism 49 and the two gas detectors 62 and 140 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a tank 120 capable of storing water is provided on the drainage passage 47. An inlet pipe 122 of a drainage passage 47 connected to the drainage valve 48 is connected to the left side portion of the tank 120, and a drainage pipe 123 of the drainage passage 47 connected to the drainage port 55 is connected to the right side portion of the tank 120. An exhaust pipe 124 is connected to the upper part of the tank 120.

  The drain pipe 123 is located in the tank 120 and extends in the vertical direction toward the bottom of the tank 120, and is bent and connected to the upstream pipe section 131, and has a drain gradient in the downstream direction. The inclined pipe part 132 extending obliquely downward and the upright pipe part 133 bent and connected to the inclined pipe part 132 and connected to the drain outlet 55 are configured. The upstream port of the upstream pipe portion 131 of the drain pipe 123 is opened in the water stored in the tank 120. That is, the structure of the tank 120 and the upstream pipe portion 131 of the drain pipe 123 constitutes a water seal mechanism 49 that prevents the exhaust gas from flowing to the drain port 55.

  The exhaust pipe 124 extends vertically upward from the connection portion with the tank 120, and its downstream end is connected to the gas processing device 45 outside the evaluation chamber 102. The exhaust pipe 124 is branched and connected to the gas induction passage 61 at a position near the tank 120. The gas guide passage 61 is formed with a smaller diameter than the exhaust pipe 124. The downstream port of the gas guide passage 61 faces the gas detector 140. Note that the gas detector 62 described above can be substituted without providing such a dedicated gas detector 140.

  According to this embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiment, even if the drain valve 48 is opened when the water level gauge 46 fails, the water sealing mechanism 49 causes the exhaust gas containing fuel gas to be discharged from the drain port 55 to the outside. It is prevented from being discharged. In addition, the gas detector 140 can quickly detect the outflow of the fuel gas, and the appropriate response described in the above embodiment can be taken at an early stage. Furthermore, since the exhaust pipe 124 has a diameter larger than that of the gas guide passage 61, it is possible to guide most of the exhaust gas to the gas processing device 45 while reducing the amount of exhaust gas guided to the gas detector 140.

<Sixth Embodiment>
Next, an evaluation apparatus 100 according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is an improvement of the third embodiment shown in FIG. The major differences from the third embodiment are that the fuel cell 2 is installed in the device 106, a plurality of evaluation devices 100 are installed in the evaluation room 102, and drainage from the plurality of evaluation devices 100 to the outdoors. It is a drainage structure to be merged.

  The fuel cell 2 is disposed in the FC installation space 150 in the device 106. The FC installation space 150 is a space partitioned from the space where the drain device 43, the water seal mechanism 49, and the like in the device 106 are disposed, and is configured by a case (stack case) that accommodates the fuel cell 2 inside, for example. can do. The FC installation space 150 is provided with a gas detector 152 that detects leakage of fuel gas from the fuel cell 2. Further, a gas detector 62 facing the gas guiding passage 61 is provided in the device 106.

  The drainage passage 47 is arranged in the device 62 and connected to the individual piping 161 provided with the drainage valve 48 and the water sealing mechanism 49, and the individual piping 161, and is arranged outside the device 106 and connected to the drainage port 55. 162. Each of the plurality of evaluation apparatuses 100 has an individual pipe 161 in the apparatus 106. The plurality of individual pipes 161 are dispersedly connected to one common pipe 162 by a plurality of evaluation apparatuses 100. Thereby, the waste water from the plurality of evaluation devices 100 can be joined and drained to the outside from one drain port 55. Although not described in detail, this configuration of the present embodiment also provides the same operations and effects as the above embodiment.

<Seventh embodiment>
Next, an evaluation apparatus 100 according to the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the sixth embodiment is that the water sealing mechanism 49 is configured in the same manner as in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and the gas guide passage 61 is guided into the FC installation space 150, and the gas detector 152 The presence or absence of the fuel gas is detected. Also in this embodiment, the same operation and effect as in the sixth embodiment can be obtained, and in addition, the gas detector in the device 106 can be omitted.

<Eighth Embodiment>
Next, an evaluation apparatus 100 according to the eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the structure of the water sealing mechanism 49 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is applied as the structure of the water sealing mechanism 49 of the seventh embodiment.

  The plurality of evaluation apparatuses 100 in the evaluation room 102 have a common and single water sealing mechanism 49. The water sealing mechanism 49 is configured by a structure of a tank 120 provided on the common pipe 162 of each drainage passage 47 and an upstream pipe part 131 of the drain pipe 123 of the common pipe 162 connected to the right side of the tank 120. ing. Similarly to FIG. 5, the upstream pipe portion 123 is connected to the inclined pipe portion 132 and the vertical pipe portion 133, and the drain port 55 of the vertical pipe portion 133 is disposed outdoors.

  In addition, an exhaust pipe 124 for introducing exhaust gas into the gas processing device 45 is connected to the upper portion of the tank 120. On the other hand, the gas guide passage 61 is provided in each evaluation apparatus 100. Each gas guide passage 61 is configured to be branched from the upper part of the individual pipe 161 in each device 106 so that the exhaust gas can be guided to each gas detector 152 in each FC installation space 150. Although not described in detail, this configuration of the present embodiment also provides the same operations and effects as the above embodiment.

<Ninth Embodiment>
Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the evaluation apparatus 100 according to the ninth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. The difference from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that a chamber 180 is provided on the gas guide passage 61 and a gas detector 62 is provided in the chamber 180.

  The chamber 180 is installed in the evaluation room 102, and is installed at a higher position than the drainage passage 47, preferably at a higher position in the evaluation room 102. The chamber 180 is formed in, for example, a sealed cylinder shape that is long in the vertical direction, and functions as a gas reservoir space. By making the chamber 180 into a vertically long shape, the components in the exhaust gas can be easily separated in the chamber 180. Specifically, among the components in the exhaust gas, hydrogen gas having a relatively low weight is separated upward in the chamber 180, and gas having a relatively large weight (for example, nitrogen) is separated downward in the chamber 180. obtain.

  The capacity of the chamber 180 is designed so that the amount of outflow gas that can flow out from the detection by the gas detector 62 to the stoppage of the exhaust gas flow into the drainage passage 47 and the amount of staying gas in the pipe can be stored sufficiently. ing. Here, the outflow of the exhaust gas to the drainage passage 47 is stopped by closing the drainage valve 48 or stopping the operation of the evaluation apparatus 100 as described above. Therefore, the above-mentioned outflow gas amount refers to the amount of exhaust gas that flows out into the drainage passage 47 due to an operation delay such as closing operation of the drainage valve 48.

  The amount of staying gas in the pipe refers to the amount of exhaust gas staying in the pipe upstream from the chamber 180. Specifically, the amount of staying gas in the pipe is defined as the amount of exhaust gas in the gas guide passage 61 and the amount of exhaust gas in the drain passage 47 between the downstream side of the drain valve 48 and the connection point of the gas guide passage 61. It means the sum.

  A gas detector 62 is provided on the upper inner wall surface of the chamber 180. Thereby, it becomes easy to detect the hydrogen gas having a relatively small weight in the exhaust gas with the gas detector 62 at an early stage. A gas exhaust pipe 181 that connects the inside and the outside of the chamber 180 is connected to the bottom of the chamber 180. Thereby, it becomes easy to exhaust the gas having a relatively large component weight in the exhaust gas to the gas discharge pipe 181. The downstream end of the gas exhaust pipe 181 may be opened in the evaluation room 102 or outdoors, or may be connected to the gas processing device 45.

  A gas induction passage 61 is connected to a side portion of the chamber 180. The opening 61 a at the downstream end of the gas guide passage 61 is located in the chamber 180 so that the exhaust gas flows toward the gas detector 62. Specifically, the opening 61 a of the gas guide passage 61 opens obliquely upward in the chamber 180 and is disposed so that the exhaust gas is directed to the gas detector 62. As a result, when the exhaust gas flows out into the gas guide passage 61, the outflow can be quickly detected by the gas detector 62.

  The opening 61a of the gas guide passage 61 may be arranged so that the exhaust gas is discharged along the inner wall of the chamber 180 in the horizontal direction. And you may provide the gas detector 62 in the downstream of the flow direction of the discharge | release. With such a configuration, the vertical diffusion of the exhaust gas when flowing into the chamber 180 can be suppressed, which is suitable for detecting the fuel gas.

  The present embodiment is more useful than the second embodiment in that the outflowed exhaust gas is stored in the chamber 180 and the gas detector 62 in the chamber 180 quickly detects that the fuel gas has flowed out. It is a point that can be. Since the capacity of the chamber 180 is designed as described above, even if the drain valve 48 is closed after the detection of the gas detector 62 or the operation of the evaluation apparatus 100 is stopped, the chamber 180 It becomes unnecessary to discharge the fuel gas from the downstream end of the gas discharge pipe 181.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, before the leaked fuel gas leaks from the downstream end of the gas discharge pipe 181 to the outside, the leak of the fuel gas can be properly detected by the gas detector 62, The leakage of the fuel gas can be prevented appropriately. Needless to say, the aspects of the chamber 180 and the gas detector 62 of the present embodiment can be applied to the other embodiments described above.

<Tenth Embodiment>
Next, with reference to FIG. 10, the evaluation apparatus 100 according to the tenth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences. The difference from the ninth embodiment is that the chamber 180 is omitted, the gas guide passage 61 is meandered, and the gas detector 62 is provided in the middle of the gas guide passage 61.

  The gas guide passage 61 includes a high place pipe 191 located at a high place in the evaluation room 102, a low place pipe 192 located at a low place in the evaluation room 102, and a communication pipe 193 communicating between them. They are continuously connected to form a meandering shape as a whole. The upstream end of the gas guiding passage 61 is connected to the drainage passage 47. The downstream end of the gas guiding passage 61 is opened outdoors in FIG. 10, but may be opened in the evaluation room 102. The gas detector 62 is provided in the upper part in the highest location piping 191.

  The high part pipe 191 is configured to have a larger pipe diameter than the low part pipe 192. By doing so, hydrogen gas in the exhaust gas accumulates in the upper part of the high place pipe 191, and other gas can appropriately pass through the high place pipe 191. Of the connecting pipes 193, the connecting pipe 193 connected to the drainage passage 47 is preferably smaller in diameter than the high-place pipe 191 so that the exhaust gas can be introduced to the gas detector 62 at an early stage. Although not shown, it is preferable to provide a mechanism that does not block the lower part (lower part) of the lower piping 192 with condensed water or the like.

  According to the present embodiment, when the fuel gas flows out to the drainage passage 47, the gas detector 62 promptly informs that before the leaked fuel gas goes from the downstream end of the gas guide passage 61 to the outside. Can be detected. Further, since the gas guide passage 61 is meandered in the vertical direction and has a sufficient length, the fuel gas passes through the gas guide passage between the detection of the gas detector 62 and the operation such as closing the drain valve 48. It is possible to appropriately prevent discharge from the downstream end of 61 to the outside.

  The fuel cell evaluation apparatus 100 of the second to tenth embodiments described above can be applied to evaluations other than fuel cells, and the above-described configuration (in the drainage passage (47) connected to the facility in that case ( A water sealing mechanism 49, a gas guide passage 61, a gas detection device 62, etc.) may be provided. Thereby, even in other equipment not related to the fuel cell, the leakage of gas from the drainage passage (47) and the gas induction passage (61) can be appropriately prevented. Such a configuration is useful for facilities for combustible gas.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 6th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 7th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 9th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the evaluation apparatus of the fuel cell which concerns on 10th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 fuel cell system, 2 fuel cell, 3 control device, 26 fuel gas discharge system, 41 discharge passage, 42 purge valve, 43 drain device, 44 exhaust passage, 45 gas treatment device, 46 water level gauge, 47 drainage passage, 48 drainage Valve, 49 Water seal mechanism, 51 Liquid reservoir, 52 Gas part, 55 Drain port, 61 Gas induction passage, 62 Gas detection sensor, 100 Evaluation device, 102 Evaluation room, 104 Discharge passage, 106 Device, 110 Highest part, 112 Sealed section, 120 tank, 150 FC installation space 161 Individual piping, 162 Common piping, 180 chamber

Claims (11)

A drain device for introducing exhaust gas containing fuel gas and recovering moisture in the exhaust gas;
A drainage passage connected to the drainage device for draining the water stored in the drainage device;
A water seal mechanism provided in the drainage passage;
A fuel cell system comprising: A water level meter for detecting the level of water stored in the drain device;
A drainage valve for opening and closing the drainage passage based on the detection result of the water level gauge,
The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the water seal mechanism is provided in the drain passage on the downstream side of the drain valve. The water sealing mechanism is constituted by a bent portion of a pipe constituting the drainage passage,
3. The fuel cell system according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion is configured such that water is accumulated in a free state.   The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a gas detector that detects the presence or absence of the fuel gas in the drainage passage. The gas detector is provided outside the drainage passage,
The fuel cell system according to claim 4, further comprising a gas induction passage that is branched and connected to the drainage passage and that can guide the exhaust gas to the gas detector. Further comprising a chamber provided on the gas guiding passage;
The fuel cell system according to claim 5, wherein the gas detector is provided in the chamber.   The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an exhaust passage that is connected to the drain device and exhausts exhaust gas from which moisture has been collected by the drain device to a gas processing device. An apparatus for evaluating a fuel cell that introduces exhaust gas containing fuel gas used for evaluation of fuel cell performance into a drain device, collects and drains moisture in the exhaust gas with the drain device, and
A drainage passage connected to the drain device and draining water stored in the drain device;
A water seal mechanism provided in the drainage passage;
A fuel cell evaluation apparatus comprising: A water level meter for detecting the level of water stored in the drain device;
A drainage valve for opening and closing the drainage passage based on the detection result of the water level gauge,
The fuel cell evaluation device according to claim 8, wherein the water sealing mechanism is provided in the drain passage on the downstream side of the drain valve.   10. The fuel cell evaluation apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a gas detector that detects the presence or absence of the fuel gas in the drain passage. A gas guiding passage branched and connected to the drainage passage;
A chamber provided on the gas guide passage,
The fuel cell evaluation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the gas detector is provided in the chamber.